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Science
While You're Sick
Glossary of Terms |
| Term |
Definition |
| Cilia |
hair-like projections of cells which filter
out dust and bacteria in the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes |
| Contaminated |
made impure by contact; polluted |
| Coordinates |
(in mathematics) two numbers which define the position of a point on a
graph |
| Dehydration |
the process of losing water through evaporation and perspiration; can be
caused by fever during illness |
| Disinfect |
to cleanse in order to destroy harmful organisms |
| Fever |
an abnormal condition characterized by undue rise in body temperature,
quickening of the pulse, and disturbance of various body functions |
| Genetic |
having to do with origin and natural growth; genes and heredity |
| Humid |
moist or damp |
| Immune system |
a system of lymphocytes and antibodies that recognize, attack, and
destroy bacteria, viruses, and other foreign materials that enter the
body |
| Immunity |
protection, either natural, or acquired through medicine, against the
occurrence of disease |
| Incubation period |
the period between infection and the appearance of signs of the disease |
| Infection |
a contamination of part of the body with disease-producing germs |
| Inflammatory |
causing swelling of body tissue |
| Interferon |
a protein substance produced by virus-infected cells that prevents
reproduction of the virus |
| Membranes |
thin layers of body tissue that line organs |
| Microscopic |
an organism or particle that is invisible or indistinct to the naked eye |
| Mucus |
a sticky fluid that lubricates parts of the respiratory and digestive
systems. See activity to make a mucus model |
| Respiratory System |
the body system whose function is to transport oxygen to the cells and
to remove carbon dioxide; the system includes nose, mouth, bronchial
tubes, and lungs |
| Rhinovirus |
a group of viruses responsible for one-third to one-half of all the
common colds people suffer |
| Saliva |
fluid produced in the mouth by the salivary gland; its action on food
begins the digestive process |
| Secretions |
a product formed by the body to perform a specific function, like
digestion (saliva) or excretion (mucus and urine) |
| Susceptibility |
lack of ability to resist some outside agent, like a virus |
| Viruses |
the smallest organisms which cause diseases such as chicken pox,
measles, rabies, flu, cold sores, and polio |
| Vulnerable |
open to be wounded, hurt, or infected; with weakened protective
capabilities |
| White blood cells |
blood cells which help defend
the body against disease; also called leukocytes |
